What the hell is wrong with breakdowns?

[Eleventeen]

OK, this is a very brief rant about something that's been happening, thankfully, less often than before, but I think it still needs to be addressed.

Yes, I know, woo, a lot of the post-hardcore metal bands have them in their songs, but I'm trying to figure out, since when did breakdowns define something as hardcore, and since when were breakdowns a bad thing.

Oh yeah... NP: Behemoth - Conjuration ov Sleep Daemons

oh boy, Behemoth has a breakdown in one of their songs, I better stop listening to that metalcore garbage, what was I thinking.

Really, quit bitching about breakdowns, because guess what, they can be utilized well.

[halfdeadhippo]

Just like anything in music, breakdowns become a bad thing when they're abused. For example, if a band has the same or a similar breakdown in almost every song in their catalogue, it becomes a bad thing.

[Eleventeen]

Well no **** dude, but I'm particularly annoyed that it has gotten to the point where a lot of the "real metalheads" will get pissed and turn something off as soon as they hear a breakdown.

[lionelhutz88]

They are awesome when done correctly. Many times though, bands abuse them until they become generic. They can really make a song great if used correctly.

[Britton]

It's a skill that you want to use...but not to much. there are songs that need breakdowns and songs that don't. out of all the songs I have I think maybe two of them have actuall "Breakdowns"

[Huber]

I think everyone knows Death Metal has the best breakdowns...heh

Anyways, it doesn't bother me when metalcore bands use tons of breakdowns in there music. It's just there style I guess. Like Metal and it's gutiar solos, Metalcore has it's breakdowns.

[CarrionBirds]

there's nothing wrong with breakdowns, it just gets boring when they all sound the same

i suggest you all download this song:

silent majority - windows down

now that's a f-cking breakdown, not junjun-junjunjunjun-junjunjunjun

[xboddahx]

I think everyone knows Death Metal has the best breakdowns...heh

Anyways, it doesn't bother me when metalcore bands use tons of breakdowns in there music. It's just there style I guess. Like Metal and it's gutiar solos, Metalcore has it's breakdowns.

exactly. Its like saying guitar solos in metal are stupid cause some people have one in every song or if someone said blast beats were stupid cause death metal bands abuse them.

[Huber]

I like Unearth's breakdowns. Zombie Autopilot is sick.

[xboddahx]

I like Unearth's breakdowns. Zombie Autopilot is sick.

have you heard the bloodlust of the human condition breakdown by unearth? That one is awesome

[Huber]

Oh boy, this one is probably my favorite of all time...

NP: Cryptopsy - Graves of Our Fathers

[David_Gilmour]

Yeah breakdowns are good, when its a Communication Breakdown!
its always the same.....

[lionelhutz88]

Yeah breakdowns are good, when its a Communication Breakdown!
its always the same.....

baby jesus read that and cried...

[RMakaru]

Abused breakdowns are what usually drive me away from the Stage where most local bands play by me. Most of the bands tend to overuse breakdowns and the whole song seems to focus on them. It annoys me. But when a breakdown is just thrown into a song like you would a pinch harmonic, it works. Unless you pull a Zakk Wylde and use pinch harmonics every three seconds in some songs.

[Cocaine]

Wormed - geodesic dome

There's a ****ing breakdown. I love breakdowns it they're not predictable. Why else would Protest the Hero be my favourite band and Kezia be my favourite cd. Come on now. Don't let metal elitism get to you.

[Kingofdudes]

Yeah breakdowns are good, when its a Communication Breakdown!
its always the same.....
Please stop posting

[FruscianteFan08]

Breakdowns are perfect if they're put in the perfect place, in a fitting song, and are short. What I can't stand are minute and a half breakdowns. But 30 second breakdowns, if used appropriately, add so much more to the song

[Sleepy]

I doubt that anyone here turns off music they're enjoying just because it has a breakdown.

When breakdowns are abused and poorly executed, then that can detract from music. If they're not resorted to every thirty seconds and are imaginative, then they don't take away from the song.

[Cocaine]

I totally understand, in one sense, the hate for breakdowns. The metalcore/hardcore genre (in some cases, which I call moshxcore) are sacrificing quality and diversity just so they can "mosh". These are the bands you see who write 3 minute breakdowns and call it a song. They're also the bands living with their parents, not yet out of highschool, and have their own "crews". These bands dont last, and neither will the fad. Breakdowns are sick, you just have to know where to find them.

[Bazarov]

Well no **** dude, but I'm particularly annoyed that it has gotten to the point where a lot of the "real metalheads" will get pissed and turn something off as soon as they hear a breakdown.

What are you talking about? I mean, I don't see why any metalhead would do that. There are plenty of breakdowns in "true metal" bands like Cryptopsy, Slayer, Megadeth, or Sepultura.

[Cocaine]

Yeah, I dont know if it's actually reached that point, but breakdowns are getting a bad rap. He might have exagerrated, but he wasn't far off if he did.

[KittensInMicrowaves]

All Shall Perish's death breakdowns are crunching and brutal

Dead to Fall gets my nod for best metalcore breakdowns, even though they aren't strictly a metalcore band

[Blue Collar Man]

Yeah breakdowns are good, when its a Communication Breakdown!
its always the same.....
:lol: That was amazing:lol:

I always hear the post-hardcore kids talking about breakdowns at school.

Can someone tell me what a breakdown is?

[Cocaine]

Wow, I can't even really explain what a breakdown is :S

This is a really generic definition from urban dictionary:

A style of guitar riff used in Hardcore (punk) music that consists of a single note being chugged slowly for maximum heaviness and brutality. Different rhythms and numbers of strums are used in a repeated fashion for usually 2 to 4 bars in length. Written equilivent: JUD-JUD, JUD-JUD, JUDJUDJUDJUD, JUD-JUD, JUD-JUD ...and so forth.

I know, it sucks, but once you hear one you'll know what they are.

[Bazarov]

:lol: That was amazing:lol:

I always hear the post-hardcore kids talking about breakdowns at school.

Can someone tell me what a breakdown is?

Breakdowns that most people will notice are the generic stop go stop go riffs, on the 6th guitar string. Sounds like

DUN-DUN...DUN CHUG-DUGADUGADUGA DUN DUN

but there are other types as well. See Raining Blood by Slayer, Metallica's One, or Megadeth's Wake Up Dead for other examples of GOOD breakdowns.

[Blue Collar Man]

Breakdowns that most people will notice are the generic stop go stop go riffs, on the 6th guitar string. Sounds like

DUN-DUN...DUN CHUG-DUGADUGADUGA DUN DUN

but there are other types as well. See Raining Blood by Slayer, Metallica's One, or Megadeth's Wake Up Dead for other examples of GOOD breakdowns.

Can you name a part in any one of those songs for me to hear? I have all 3 of those songs.

[Ad Absurdum]

I think of breakdown as when everything gets really simple and really heavy. 'Graves of the Fathers' by Cryptopsy is the perfect example of a breakdown.

And breakdowns are great, when they are done right. In my opinion, too many of the new 'metalcore' bands force breakdowns because they think that an integral part of being metalcore is having breakdowns. So no, there's nothing wrong with breakdowns unless they are A)blatantly used to conform to a genres stereotypes or b) blatantly used to start a mosh pit.

[nowitzki]

Can you name a part in any one of those songs for me to hear? I have all 3 of those songs.

In Raining Blood its the part right after "your time slips away". Listen to the end of Domination by Pantera for another good example if you have that.

[Bazarov]

Can you name a part in any one of those songs for me to hear? I have all 3 of those songs.
Okay.
Raining Blood 2:10
Wake Up Dead 1:04
One 4:38

I think of breakdown as when everything gets really simple and really heavy. 'Graves of the Fathers' by Cryptopsy is the perfect example of a breakdown.

And breakdowns are great, when they are done right. In my opinion, too many of the new 'metalcore' bands force breakdowns because they think that an integral part of being metalcore is having breakdowns. So no, there's nothing wrong with breakdowns unless they are A)blatantly used to conform to a genres stereotypes or b) blatantly used to start a mosh pit.

I agree with this completely.

[Eleventeen]

Yes, I know breakdowns can normally be a good thing, I'm glad that peopleare seeing this, and Cocaine was right, I was using an exaggeration to prove a point.

Some great breakdowns:

Behemoth - Conjuration ov Sleep Daemons
Korn - Daddy
Unearth - Endless
Avenged Sevenfold - Remenissions
In Flames - Dead End
Chimaira - Nothing Remains
Into Eternity - Spiralling Into Depression
Lamb of God - Purified

Also, that whole "blatantly used to conform to genres" thing is exactly what I'm talking about, I know of a TON of people who will call anything "garbage" and "hardcore" because they hear a breakdown.

[ValeOfShadows]

Savage Messiah-Arch Enemy. That has a breakdown.....I like it...Hate the intro though

[guitrguy]

Breakdowns are nothing more then an interlude, for them to sound good that have to complement the previous chord progression and allude to the next. Some bands unfortunately dont know this and think they HAVE to put one in.

[Moses]

YOU ALL MUST HEAR THE BREAKDOWN IN "SPIRALING INTO DEPRESSION" BY INTO ETERNITY



That is a breakdown done right.

[Eleventeen]

YOU ALL MUST HEAR THE BREAKDOWN IN "SPIRALING INTO DEPRESSION" BY INTO ETERNITY



That is a breakdown done right.

YES, HOW COULD I HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT ONE!

[Moses]

YES, HOW COULD I HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT ONE!
I DON'T KNOW!!

[ValeOfShadows]

Why Are We Yelling

[guitrguy]

Moses is all about some into eternity, should we say fanboy. I personally dont hear anything special in them. Don't get me wrong I do like them.

[Eleventeen]

Why Are We Yelling
BECAUSE IT'S THE MOST AMAZING EXPERIENCE OF OUR LIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Moses is all about some into eternity, should we say fanboy. I personally dont hear anything special in them. Don't get me wrong I do like them.

They are beyond epic :angry:

[guitrguy]

Are you serious? they are doing what every other metal band does.

[Moses]

I'm not a fanboy, I just like them and want them to get bigger. The only fanboy I have been of any band so far has been Nevermore. I have been a Tool thread regular since I joined the forums but I wasn't really a fanboy.


lolz at thread... :lol:

[KaOtIc]

Pantera are the gods of breakdowns

[Cocaine]

I'm a Protest the Hero fanboy, so what? Either Into Eternity aren't a generic band at all, and Buried In Oblivion is quickly becoming one of my favourite albums.